Kenneth V. Georgetti President / President
Hassan Yossuff Secretary-Treasurer / Secrelaire-tresorier
Barbara Brea Executive Vice-President / Vice-présidente executive
Marie Clarke Walker Executive Vice-President / Vice-presidente executive
December 19, 2007
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON
K1A OA2
By fax: 613-941-6900
Dear Prime Minister:
On behalf of the 3.2 million working Canadian men and women affiliated to the Canadian Labour Congress, I am writing to encourage you to extend Canada's support for the people and government of Bolivia, in the face of conflict surrounding the new Bolivian constitution. This action would be in line with the governments of nine Latin American countries (
President Evo Morales was elected in December 2005, with a clear mandate, as the first Indigenous president of
The opposition governors of five of the nine Bolivian departments (
While the minority opposition has every right to have its voice heard in the constitutional process, their systematic interruption of the Constituent Assembly's sittings, as well as recent violent protests, calls for civil disobedience and ugly racist declarations are impeding the exercise of a democratic process.
The Canadian Labour Congress expresses its solidarity with the democratically elected government and its support for the constitutional reforms demanded by the majority of Bolivians.
We condemn the calls to violence and secession, these which are anti-democratic attempts to destabilize the country and deny the oppressed majority their right to reshape
We have confidence that President Evo Morales will manage the current situation, with respect for democratic principles, and will ensure that Bolivian political forces maintain a climate of dialogue and understanding, rejecting all attempts that endanger the stability of the country's institutions and the democratically elected government.
Sincerely,
Kenneth V. Georgetti President
cc. CLC Officers and Executive Assistants
CLC Executive Committee
The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour
The Honourable Jack Layton, New Democratic Party of Canada
The Honourable Stephane Dion, Liberal Party of Canada
Mr. Gilles Duceppe, Bloc Quebecois
Ms. Elizabeth May, Green Party of Canada
Embassy of Bolivia in Ottawa
3 comments:
As a Bolivian living in Canada, I strongly object calling the Morales government "democratic". The authoritarian regime has suppressed every democratic institution in the country, has trampled on every human right, and has soaked a non-concerted constitution on the blood of over 30 innocent Bolivians brutally massacred by the Morales government. With Cuban and Venezuelan guns and advice Bolivians who think differently are constantly harrassed, as the constitutional courts was physically destroyed by the government's social squads (SS). As a result of institutionalized intimidation and increased poverty, due to ideologically driven national-socialistic policies, more than three million Bolivians have emigrated, a third of the country's population, leaving hundred of thousands of children without their parents during this Christmas season. Canada should not support a totalitarian regime but condemn it. Canada should support the courageous regional leaders who are risking their lives to restore democracy in Bolivia brutally ruled by a fascist and corporatist regime.
I wish American labor would endorse Morales's efforts.
It's the opposition that uses anti-democratic means. It was recently displayed by the so called autonomy movement, bought and paid for by the CIA.
There is a totalitarian regime in South America. It is called Colombia.
Juan Pueblo, did you leave Bolivia for Canada because of the Morales government? And how long did you live under this government before deciding to leave?
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